Aquatica is set for 'soft' debut

TOURISM & TRAVEL

SeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, makes its debut Saturday as Busch Entertainment Corp. puts the new park through a "soft" opening for the new attraction.

The 59-acre water park, just east of SeaWorld Orlando on the other side of International Drive, features 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons, and more than 80,000 square feet of beach area. Busch Entertainment's marketing program is aimed at distinguishing the water park from others, including Wet 'n Wild, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, by declaring it to be "SeaWorld's waterpark."

Among the distinctions that Busch Entertainment is pushing: the park will feature Commerson's dolphins, colorful tropical fish and other animals, a high-speed river ride, private cabanas for rent and higher-end food options.

SeaWorld is opening the park slowly, building toward a grand opening on April 4. Tickets are $38.95 for adults and $32.95 for children. Package deals are available including Busch's other parks.

'ESPN fan fest' kicks off Friday

ESPN The Weekend, described in promotions as "the ultimate ESPN fan fest," kicks off Friday in Disney's H ollywood Studios theme park, featuring celebrity appearances by athletes and ESPN personalities, live telecasts and tapings, games, motorcades and other activities promoting sports in general and the ESPN television programs in particular.

The event drew some early publicity this winter when one of the athletes identified as a co-host, baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, got embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of steroids abuse, which he denied. Clemens withdrew from ESPN The Weekend activities last week. The other co-host, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, still is expected to attend.

The Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee enters Florida's Green Lodging program on Thursday, joining a rapidly growing roster of hotels in the state adopting environmentally friendly practices.

The hotel says it has added energy-management technology that will reduce the complex's consumption of electricity. The lodging program, administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection, requires hotels to implement a plan to conserve resources.

Gaylord Hotels, the resort's owner, will also announce a new program called "We're Eco-Logical," which will be used to advertise the company's efforts to promote conservation.

Convention center concessions deal

Centerplate Inc., the large concessions operator, was awarded the 10-year food-and-beverage service contract for the giant Orange County Convention Center. The South Carolina-based company replaces Levys Restaurant. Management is likely to change, but line staff and sales staff generally will remain the same, said Kathie Canning, general manager of the convention center, which hosts more than 300 events a year. Canning said that, with the arrival of a new caterer, the convention center is looking for new and creative menu items, grab-and-go food, and an updated look for the center's concession stands.

New Radisson Hotel debuts

The new Radisson Hotel Lake Buena Vista on Apopka Vineland Road has made its debut. Ajit Nana, senior vice president for Avista Hotels & Resorts, said the company stripped the former LBV Hotel down to its frame and reconstructed it. Amenities in the 196-room hotel include Sleep Number Beds by Select Comfort, flat-panel televisions, free high-speed Internet, and in-room clocks with iPod docking stations.

OIA to add Starbucks, Ya-Ya's Cafe

More concession changes are coming at Orlando International Airport.

An existing Seattle's Best coffee stand will be replaced by a Starbucks on the airport's Airside II, where Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways planes arrive and depart. OIA made the switch after concessions giant Host International Inc., which pitched the Starbucks, promised the airport at least $803,000 in payments a year. The Seattle's Best group guaranteed the airport $601,000 annually.

The airport also awarded a five-year deal for two Ya-Ya's Cafe snack bars, one on each side of the luggage-claim level. The contractor promised a minimum payment of just over $52,000 a year.